Alaattin Köseler, mayor of Istanbul’s Beykoz district and member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was detained at his home early Thursday morning (February 27).
Köseler is being held on charges of “corrupt interference in awarding of tenders” and “misconduct in public office”. A further 21 people have also been detained in connection with the investigation.
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavaş, CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, and CHP Istanbul head Özgür Çelik all released statements early Thursday condemning Köseler’s arrest.
The statements took particular aim at the circumstances of Köseler’s detention. The Beykoz mayor was reportedly detained around 4:00 am while asleep at his home.
- Istanbul mayor under investigation again following comments alleging falsification of prosecutor reports
- Istanbul district mayor detained in corruption investigation
Köseler’s arrest follows wave of arrests, investigations of CHP officials
Politicians from Turkey’s main opposition CHP have been subjected to increasing legal pressure in recent months, particularly in Istanbul.
Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who recently announced his presidential candidacy, is currently under five active investigations that threaten to remove him from office, lead to a prison sentence, or disqualify him from Turkey’s next presidential race.
Deputy mayors from Istanbul’s Kartal and Ataşehir districts, along with eight other officials also belonging to the CHP, were arrested in early February as part of an ‘anti-terror operation’.
Medyascope'u destekle. Medyascope'a abone ol.
Medyascope’u senin desteğin ayakta tutuyor. Hiçbir patronun, siyasi çıkarın güdümünde değiliz; hangi haberi yapacağımıza biz karar veriyoruz. Tıklanma uğruna değil, kamu yararına çalışıyoruz. Bağımsız gazeteciliğin sürmesi, sitenin açık kalması ve herkesin doğru bilgiye erişebilmesi senin desteğinle mümkün.
Rıza Akpolat, former mayor of Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district and also a member of the CHP, was detained in early January on corruption charges.
Ahmet Özer, the CHP’s former mayor in Istanbul’s suburban Esenyurt district, was detained in late October 2024 on alleged terrorism charges.
While the practice of removing and replacing democratically elected officials has been employed for years in Turkey against pro-Kurdish parties, the recent removal of numerous CHP politicians has signaled a more expansive crackdown against the Turkish opposition.
